Todman's always ready

After bye week in SouthCoast, Jordan Todman back to practice, weight room with Minnesota Vikings

When Jordan Todman comes home to the SouthCoast, there are a lot of people that want to pull him in different directions. But for the Minnesota Vikings running back, who is still working hard to achieve his dream of playing in the NFL, the bye week was a chance to return to his home in Dartmouth not to be bathed in glory, but to refocus and re-energize as his team's season heads into the home stretch.

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By TIM WEISBERG

southcoasttoday.com

By TIM WEISBERG

Posted Nov. 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By TIM WEISBERG
Posted Nov. 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

When Jordan Todman comes home to the SouthCoast, there are a lot of people that want to pull him in different directions. But for the Minnesota Vikings running back, who is still working hard to achieve his dream of playing in the NFL, the bye week was a chance to return to his home in Dartmouth not to be bathed in glory, but to refocus and re-energize as his team's season heads into the home stretch.

While other teammates might be heading for tropical climates or exotic destinations, Todman was more than happy to make his week-long vacation a "stay-cation."

He kept a low profile while he was home for the week. He didn't want to go out and be recognized, with the exception of swinging by Dartmouth High to talk with his former coach Rick White and his old teachers.

Instead, Todman wanted to just stay close to his family, whom he hadn't seen since the Fourth of July. His big outings for the week consisted of going to a concert on Thursday night and attending brother Justin Cruz's final college game on Saturday, when he traveled to Philadelphia with the family to see Cruz and Bridgewater State fall to Widener, 44-14, in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament.

"I just wanted to take the bye week to relax and be with my family," Todman said, noting that they all told him how he looked taller and stronger than when they saw him in the summer. "Then, next week, it's back to work."

The Vikings are 6-4 on the season, and are in contention for the NFC North crown (they're 2-0 in the division). Yet, they still haven't played the division-leading Bears or the Green Bay Packers, who are currently No. 2 in the division. Still, the Vikings boast the No. 3 rushing attack in the NFL, and Todman has helped contribute to that as a member of the Vikings' eight-man practice squad.

"I've played some scout team (where he attempts to mimic whatever running back the Vikings defense will face that week), and I've taken some of the reps with (starting quarterback Christian) Ponder and the rest of the first-team offense," Todman said. "I could pretty much play Sunday if they need me to."

Right now, that's Todman's main job as an NFL running back — to just be ready to play. As a member of the practice squad, he's not an official member of the Vikings' 53-man roster and is essentially a free agent; teams can sign a player off another team's practice squad whenever it chooses. In fact, that's how Todman ended up in Minnesota in the first place — he was signed off the Chargers' practice squad before the final game of last season when Adrian Peterson tore his ACL and MCL last Christmas Eve.

Todman never did get the chance to play, however, but the Vikings kept him around because they liked what they saw in him. He looked to be earning a spot on the full-time roster in training camp, before his own injury hampered his progress. Todman sprained his ankle in practice, keeping him out of the first two preseason games and limiting him in the third. He bounced back to run for 114 yards and a touchdown in the preseason finale, but it still wasn't enough to keep him on the regular roster. Todman was cut and re-signed to the practice squad on September 1.

"I had to sit out five weeks, and that put me in the hole," he said. "In that last preseason game, I thought I performed to the best of my abilities and it felt awesome. But at that point, there was only so much I could do. In my opinion — and I honestly believe this — if I was able to play throughout the preseason, the decision would have been different."

Many thought Todman might get a crack at the big time anyway, as Peterson fought his way back from his devastating injuries. That hasn't been the case, though — it's only been about 11 months since the injury, and Peterson is the NFL's leading rusher, already with 1,128 yards on the season.

Todman used Peterson's comeback from injury as a model for recovering from his sprained ankle, but it's a lot harder when you're not already guaranteed a roster spot like A.P.

"It takes a toll on you mentally, and physically, you just keep pushing yourself to get back as soon as possible," Todman said. "Nothing is guaranteed in this business, but it's a different feeling when you can be on the field, taking full responsibility for what's happening. Not being able to play, putting your future in someone else's hands — that's frustrating."

But it's still encouraging to him that the Vikings stuck by him through the injury and gave him the opportunity to play in the preseason finale, and thought enough of him to sign him to the practice squad. He feels like he's found a football home in Minneapolis.

"It's totally different this year," Todman said. "We're a young team in Minnesota, and we have a great thing going. Plus, being in the NFL for a year now, I'm more comfortable personally. As a rookie, I was really nervous about making mistakes, doing things wrong. Here, it's a different philosophy. I feel like the coaching staff here is really friendly and you can approach them anytime for a conversation or to share a problem."

Todman said the physical progress he's made has also been markedly different.

"I'm more consistent with my weight now. Before I used to get little fluctuations, but now I'm pretty much the same weight," he said. "And speed-wise, I feel like I'm as fast as I've ever been. I get compliments from my team, especially from my defense, who play against the starting running backs in the NFL. They compare my speed against theirs and they say they see me getting to that level."

Todman said he also has developed a strong bond with the other running backs on the team, including Peterson and backup Toby Gerhart.

"We have a good relationship. After a win, we go out together, or we have holiday parties and stuff like that," Todman said.

He also said the odd dichotomy of being friends with someone who essentially stands in the way of him reaching his dream of playing in an NFL regular-season game doesn't really enter his mind.

"That's fine. You can't hold grudges, because you're playing a pro sport against the best of the best and it's all about competition," he said. "You're one play away from something happening, from getting your shot, and you've got to make the most of those opportunities when they come. I have faith and I believe everything happens for a reason. My time will come — it might not happen this year, or next, but it will come."

Todman lives the full schedule of an NFL player, just without the travel or the playing on Sundays. He still practices Wednesdays through Fridays, works out three times a week, and goes to daily meetings and Monday film sessions.

He watches most games from a suite in the Metrodome along with the other inactive players, which is a change from San Diego, when he watched the games from the sidelines. Some of the other practice squad players do travel to away games, but Todman hasn't had the chance yet.

When he's watching games on television, or just taking a moment to take stock of his life to this point, he considers himself pretty fortunate. After all, he's already wearing an NFL uniform on a daily basis, driving an Escalade and a CLS 550 Mercedes-Benz at an age when most of his contemporaries are still in school.

"I'm pretty lucky for a 22-year-old kid fresh out of college. I can't complain much," he said with a laugh.

But then, he turned serious.

"I think about my situation a lot, but at the same time, I don't know the future. I'm just going to keep doing what I do, going out there and playing football every day, every down that I am asked to," Todman said, "And we'll just see what the future holds."